PREFACE (continued 2)

Cheap Jack. A modern equivalent for “Chap-man.” Jack is a generic name for man-servant or an inferior person.

Cheapside. The High Street of the city of London, consequently abutting on the chepe, or market-place.

Cheese it. A corruption of “Choose it better,” or, in other words, “Tell me something I can believe.”

Chef. French for head or master. Employed alone, the word expresses a head man cook.

Chelmsford. The ford over the Chelmer.

Chelsea. Anciently “Chevelsey,” or “Shingle Island.” See “Chiswick.”

Chequers. An inn sign derived from the arms of the Fitzwarrens, one of whom had the granting of vintners’ licences.

Cherry Bob. An old summer pastime for boys. A bunch of cherries suspended from a beam or tree-branch was kept swinging to and fro, while the boys, with their hands behind them, tried to catch the fruit with their mouths.

Cherry Gardens Pier. A name reminiscent of a popular resort of bygone days in connection with the 59“Jamaica” in front of which rum, newly arrived from the West Indies, was landed.

Cherry Pickers. The 11th Hussars, because, when captured by the French during the Peninsular War, some men of the regiment were robbing an orchard.

Chesapeake. Indian for “great waters.”

Chester. The city built on the Roman castra, or camp.

Chestnut. Edwin Abbey, the painter of the Coronation picture, is said to have been responsible for the term “Chestnut” as applied to a stale joke. While a member of a club at Philadelphia he always told a story about a man who had a chestnut farm, but made nothing out of it because he gave his chestnuts away. Abbey invariably began this story differently, so that his follow clubmen would not recognise it, but they soon interrupted him by exclaiming “Chestnuts!”

Chestnut Sunday. The first Sunday in June, when the chestnut-trees in Bushey Park at Hampton Court are in bloom.

Cheyne Walk. After Lord Cheyne, lord of the manor of Chelsea in the seventeenth century.

Chicago. Indian for “wild onion.”

Chichester. The Roman camp town taken by Cissa, King of the South Saxons, thenceforth called Cissanceaster.

Chichester Rents. The site of the town mansion of the Bishops of Chichester.

Chili. Peruvian for “land of snow.”

China. After Tsin, the founder of a great dynasty. Earthenware of a superior quality was first made in China; hence the name.

Chin Music. An Americanism for derisive laughter.

Chip off the Old Block. A saying in allusion to the “Family Tree.”

Chippendale. Furniture of elegant design, named after its famous maker.

60Chiswick. Anciently “Cheoselwick,” or village of shingles, from the Anglo-Saxon ceosal, sand, gravel.

Chocolat-Menier. The perfection of chocolate, introduced by M. Menier of Paris, who died in 1881.

Choke Him off. The allusion is to grip a dog by the throat in order to make him relax his hold.

Christiania. Rebuilt by Christian IV. of Denmark.

Christian Scientists. A modern offshoot of the Peculiar People, or Faith Healers, who believe that sickness and pain can be cured by faith and prayer without medicine.

Christmas-box. A relic of Catholic days, when a box was placed in all the churches to receive Christmas alms for the poor. These were distributed on the day following.

Christmas Island. Captain Cook landed here on Christmas Day, 1777.

Christ’s College. Founded at Cambridge by Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII., for a master and twelve fellows, corresponding to Christ and His apostles, to whom it was dedicated.

Christy Minstrels. After Charles Christy, who introduced the Negro Minstrel Entertainment to England.

Church Ale. Specifically the ale brewed by the church-wardens for merrymakers on the village green at Whitsuntide and other high holidays. Later the assemblage itself came to be styled a “Church Ale.”

Chute. The French for “a fall,” applied by the Americans to a declivity of water. The exciting diversion of boating on such a waterfall is styled “Shooting the Chutes.”

Cicerone. After Cicero, the prince of speakers. The comparison between the celebrated orator and the “Roman Guide” befooled by Mark Twain is rather painful.

61Cigar. From the Spanish Cigarro, the original name of a particular kind of Cuban tobacco.

Cinderella Dance. Because it is brought to an end at twelve o’clock, in allusion to the heroine in the fairy story.

Circumlocution Office. A term first applied to the shuttle-cock methods in vogue at our public offices by Charles Dickens in “Little Dorrit.”

Cistercians. An Order of monks established at Cistercium, or Citeau, near Dijon.

City. The proper and historic distinction between a city and a town lies in the fact that the former is the seat of a bishop, and accordingly contains a cathedral. In modern times many burghs or towns have been advanced to the dignity of a city on account of their commercial importance. These are, however, cities only in name.

City Fathers. Aldermen of the city of London.

City Golgotha. Old Temple Bar, from the heads of rebels spiked on its top. Golgotha is Hebrew for “the place of skulls.”

Claim. A squatter’s term for a piece of land which he has marked off and settled upon pending its legal acquisition from the Government. During the gold fever the name also came to be applied to the land parcelled out to each digger.

Clare Market. The site of Clare House, the residence of the Earl of Clare.

Clarence. A carriage named after the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV.

Clarges Street. From the mansion of Sir Walter Clarges, afterwards taken over by the Venetian ambassador.

Clarendon. The black type first used at the Clarendon Press, Oxford, which owed its foundation to the profits of Lord Clarendon’s “History of the Rebellion,” presented to the University.

62Claude Lorraine. The assumed name of the celebrated landscape painter Claude Galée, who was a native of Lorraine.

Cleaned Out. Pockets emptied of cash. The allusion is to a saucepan or other domestic cooking utensil which is cleansed after use.

Clerkenwell. The holy well beside which the parish clerks performed their miracle plays on festival days.

Clifford Street. After Elizabeth Clifford, wife of the Earl of Burlington.

Closure. A modern parliamentary term signifying the right of the Speaker to order the closing of a useless debate. The Closure was first applied 24th February 1884.

Cloth Fair. The great annual mart for the sale of cloth brought over by Flemish merchants.

Club. From the German kleben, to adhere, cleave to, associate.

Clyde. The strong river, from the Gaelic clyth, strong.

Coast is Clear. Originally a smugglers’ phrase relative to coastguards.

Coat of Arms. During the days of chivalry, when a knight was completely encased in armour and the vizor of his helmet was drawn over his face, his sole mode of distinction was by the embroidered design of his armorial bearings on a sleeveless coat that he wore in the lists at tournaments. In warfare the coat was dispensed with, but he was known to his comrades by another device on the crest of his helmet.

Cobbler. An American drink of spirits, beer, sugar, and spice, said to have been first concocted by a Western shoemaker.

Coblentz. From the Latin name, Confluentia, being situated at the confluence of the Rivers Rhine and Moselle.

63Cockade. From the party badge originally displayed on a cocked hat. See “Knocked into a Cocked Hat.”

Cockade State. Maryland, from the brilliant cockades worn by the brave Old Maryland Regiment during the War of Independence.

Cockney. From “Cockayne,” a Fools’ Paradise, where there is nothing but eating and drinking, described in a satiric poem of the thirteenth century. The word was clearly derived from coquere, to cook, and had reference to London, where the conduits on occasion ran with wine, and good living fell to the lot of men generally.

Cock-penny. A penny levied by the master on each of the boys for allowing the brutal sport of cock-throwing in school on Shrove Tuesday formerly. The master himself found the bird.

Cocktail. Tradition has it that one of Montezuma’s nobles sent a draught of a new beverage concocted by him from the cactus plant to the Emperor by his daughter Xochitl. The Aztec monarch smiled, tasted it, gulped it down with a relish, and, it is said, afterwards married the girl; thenceforward this drink became the native tipple, and for centuries it bore the softened name of Octel. The corruption of Octel into Cocktail by the soldiers of the American Army when, under General Scott, they invaded Mexico, about sixty years ago, was easy.

Coger. A slang term derived from the members of the celebrated Cogers’ Club in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. They styled themselves “Cogers” from the Latin cogito, to think deeply.

Cohees. Natives of Western Pennsylvania, owing to their addiction to the phrase “Quoth he,” softened into Quo’he.

Coin Money. To make money as fast as it is turned out at the Mint. Few men are so fortunate.

Coke Hat. After William Coke, who popularised it. See “Billycock.”

64Coldbath Fields. A district of Clerkenwell now long built over, but famous for a cold bath; the site is marked by the present Bath Street.

Colchester. The camp town on the Colne.

Coldstream Guards. The regiment raised by General Monk at Coldstream, Berwickshire, in 1660.

Coleman Street. Said to have been built upon by one Coleman; but long before his time the coalmen or charcoal merchants congregated here.

Colleen. Irish for girl. “Colleen Bawn” expresses a blonde girl.

College Hill. From a collegiate foundation of Sir Richard Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London.

College Port. Inferior port served up to the older students at college. It is said to be specially prepared for this market.

Collop Monday. The day preceding Shrove Tuesday, when housewives cut up all their meat into large steaks or collops for salting during Lent.

Cologne. The Colonia Agrippina of the Romans, so called after the mother of Nero, who was born here.

Colonel. A Far-West title of courtesy bestowed upon anyone who owns a stud horse.

Colorado. The Spaniards gave this name to the state in allusion to its coloured ranges.

Colosseum. Greek for “great amphitheatre.”

Combine. An Americanism for “Combination.” Applied in a financial or commercial sense, this term is now well understood in our own country.

Come up to the Scratch. A prize-fighting expression. A line was scratched on the ground with a stick, and the combatants were expected to toe it with the left foot.

Commonwealth. In theatrical parlance, a sharing out of the proceeds of the week’s performances after all expenses have been deducted. This generally happens 65when the manager has decamped with the entire takings, and left his company stranded.

Compton Street (Old and New). Built upon by Sir Richard Compton and Bishop Compton respectively.

Conduit Street. From a conduit of spring water set up here before the land was built over.

Confidence Man. An Americanism for one who in this country is known to extract money from strangers by the “confidence trick.”

Confounded Liar. Literally one who is covered with confusion on being brought face to face with the truth.

Congleton Bears. A nickname given to the people of Congleton, Cheshire. Local tradition has it that the bear intended for baiting at the holiday sports died, and, to procure another, the authorities appropriated the money collected for a new Church Bible.

Congregationalists. Independent Nonconformists, who are neither Baptists nor Wesleyans, and claim the right to “call” their own ministers, each congregation managing its own affairs.

Connecticut. From the Indian Quinnitukut, “country of the long river.”

Conscience Money. Money sent anonymously to the Treasury in respect of Income-Tax after the thought of having defrauded the Revenue has pricked the individual conscience.

Constance. Founded by Constantine, the father of Constantine the Great; one of the oldest cities of Germany.

Constantinople. The city of Constantine.

Constitution Hill. Where John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, took his daily constitutional walk while residing at Buckingham House, built by him in 1703. On the site of this mansion George IV. erected the present edifice, Buckingham Palace, in 1825.

66Cook your Goose. An old chronicler thus explains this saying: “The Kyng of Swedland coming to a towne of his enemyes with very little company, his enemyes, to slyghte his forces, did hang out a goose for him to shoote, but perceiving before nyghte that these fewe soldiers had invaded and sette their chief houlds on fire, they demanded of him what his intent was, to whom he replied, ‘To cook your goose.’”

Coon. Short for racoon, an American animal much prized on account of its fur.

Cooper. A publican’s term for half ale and half porter. See “Entire.”

Copenhagen Street. From Copenhagen Fields, where stood a noted tea-house opened by a Dane.

Copper. A policeman, from the thieves’ slang cop, to take, catch.

Copperheads. A political faction of North America during the Civil War, regarded as secret foes, and so called after the copperhead serpent, which steals upon its enemy unawares.

Cordeliers. Franciscan Friars distinguished from the parent Order by the knotted waist-cord.

Corduroy. In French Cord du Roy, “King’s cord,” because ribbed or corded material was originally worn only by the Kings of France.

Cordwainer. The old name for a shoemaker, because the leather he worked upon was Cordwain, a corruption of Cordovan, brought from the city of Cordova.

Cork. From the Gaelic corroch, a swamp.

Cork Street. From the residence of Lord Cork, one of the four brothers of the Boyle family.

Corncrackers. The Kentuckians, from a native bird of the crane species called the Corncracker.

Corner. The creation of a monopoly of prices in respect of natural produce or manufactured goods. The allusion 67here is to speculators who agreed in a quiet corner, at or near the Exchange, to buy up the whole market.

Cornhill. The ancient city corn market.

Cornwall. Pursuant to the Saxon Wahl, the horn of land peopled by foreigners.

Corpus Christi College. At Cambridge, founded by the united guilds or fraternities of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin.

Corsica. A Phœnician term for “wooded isle.”

Cossack. The Russian form of the Tartar term kasake, a horseman.

Costa Rica. Spanish for “rich coast.”

Costermonger. In Shakespeare’s time a Costardmonger, or trader in a famous species of apple so called.

Cottonopolis. Manchester, the city identified with English cotton manufacture.

Cotton Plantation State. Alabama, from its staple industry.

Cotton to. An Americanism meaning to cling to a man as cotton would cling to his garments.

Counter-jumper. The derisive nickname of a draper’s assistant, on account of his agility in leaping over the counter as a short cut from one department to another.

Country Dance. A corruption of the French contre danse, from the opposite positions of the dancers.

Coup de Grace. The merciful finishing stroke of the executioner after a criminal had been tortured by having all his bones broken on a wheel. One blow on the head then put him out of his misery.

Court Cards. Properly Coat Cards, on account of their heraldic devices.

Court of Arches. The ecclesiastical Court of Appeal for the Archbishopric of Canterbury which in ancient times was held in the crypt of St Mary-le-Bow, or St Mary of the Arches at Cheapside. See “Bow Church.”

68Court Plaster. The plaster out of which ladies of the Court fashioned their decorative (?) face patches.

Covenanters. Those who entered into a Solemn League or Covenant to resist the religious and political measures of Charles I. in 1638.

Covent Garden. A corruption of Convent Garden, the site of which was converted into a market, temp. Charles II. The convent and garden belonged to the Abbey at Westminster.

Coventry. A corruption of Conventry--i.e. Convent town. Before the Reformation it was far famed for the number of its conventual establishments. The suffix try is Celtic for “dwelling.”

Coventry Street. From the residence of Henry Coventry, Secretary of State, temp. Charles II.

Cowcross Street. Where the cattle crossed the brook in days when this now congested neighbourhood was pleasant pasture land watered by the “River of Wells.”

Coxcomb. A vain, empty-pated individual. So called from the cock’s comb worn on the cap by the licensed jesters, because they were allowed to crow over their betters.

Cracker. Although the origin of this term when applied to a juvenile firework would appear to be self-evident, it is really a corruption of Cracque, the Norman description of “Greek Fire.”

Crackers. The people of Georgia, owing, it is said, to the unintelligibility of their speech.

Cranbourn Street. From the long, narrow stream of this name, when the whole district hereabouts was open fields.

Crank. One whose notions of things are angular, eccentric, or crooked. His ideas do not run in a straight line.

Cravat. Introduced into Western Europe by the Cravates or Croatians in the seventeenth century.

69Craven Street. From the residence of Lord Craven prior to his removal to Drury House in Drury Lane.

Cream City. Milwaukee, from the cream-coloured bricks of which its houses are built.

Credit Draper. The modern designation of a “Tallyman.”

Cree Church. See “St Katherine Cree.”

Creed Lane. Where the monks recited the Credo in procession to St Paul’s. See “Ave Maria Lane.”

Cremorne Gardens. Laid out on the site of the mansion and grounds of Thomas Dawson, Lord Cremorne.

Creole State. Louisiana. In New Orleans particularly a Creole is a native of French extraction.

Crescent City. New Orleans, built in the form of a crescent.

Crimea. From the Kimri or Cymri who settled in the peninsula.

Cripplegate. From the city gate around which gathered cripples begging for alms, the neighbouring church being dedicated to St Giles, their patron.

Crokers. Potatoes, because first raised in Croker’s Field at Youghal, Ireland.

Cromwell Road. From the mansion and grounds of Richard Cromwell, son of the Lord Protector.

Crop Clubs. Clubs formed to evade Mr Pitt’s tax on hair powder. The Times thus noticed one of the earliest in its issue of 14th April 1795: “A numerous Club has been formed in Lambeth called the ‘Crop Club,’ every member of which is obliged to have his hair docked as close as the Duke of Bridgewater’s old bay horses. This assemblage is instituted for the purpose of opposing, or rather evading, the tax on powdered heads.”

Cross Keys. A common inn sign throughout Yorkshire, from the arms of the Archbishop of York.

70Crowd. Theatrical slang for members of a company collectively.

Crow over him. A cock always crows over a vanquished opponent in a fight.

Crutched Friars. Friars of the Holy Trinity, so called from the embroidered cross on their habits (Latin, cruciati, crossed). Their London house was located in the thoroughfare named after them.

Cuba. The native name of the island when Columbus discovered it.

Cully. A slang term applied to a man, mate, or companion. Its origin is the Romany cuddy, from the Persian gudda, an ass.

Cumberland. The land of the Cymri.

Cupboard. See “Dresser.”

Curaçoa. A liqueur first prepared at the West Indian island of the same name.

Currants. First brought from Corinth.

Cursitor Street. From the Cursitors’ Office that stood here. The Cursitors were clerks of Chancery, but anciently choristers, just as the Lord Chancellor himself was an ecclesiastic.

Curtain Road. From the “Curtain Theatre,” where Ben Jonson’s “Every Man in his Humour” was put on the stage.

Curzon Street. From George Augustus Curzon, created Viscount Howe, the ground landlord.

Cuspidor. The American term for a spittoon, derived from the Spanish escupidor, a spitter.

Cut me to the Quick. The quick of one’s fingers when cut into is most alive or sensitive to pain. See “Quicksilver.”

Cutpurse. A thief who, in days before pockets came into vogue, had no difficulty in cutting the strings with which a purse was suspended from the girdle.

71Cut the Line. A printer’s expression for knocking off work. Formerly compositors finished the line they were composing; nowadays Trades Unionism has made them so particular that they leave off in the middle of a line on the first stroke of the bell.

Cypress. A tree introduced to Western Europe from the island of Cyprus.

Cyprus. From kupras, the Greek name for a herb which grew on the island in profusion.

D

Dachshund. German for “badger-dog.”

Daffodil. An English corruption of the French d’Asphodel.

Dagonet. The pseudonym of Mr George R. Sims in The Referee, after the jester at the Court of King Arthur.

Daguerreotype. An early process of photography discovered by L. J. M. Daguerre.

Dahlgreen Gun. After its inventor, an officer in the United States Navy.

Dahlia. Introduced to Europe from Mexico in 1784 by Andrew Dahl, the Swedish botanist.

Daisy. From the Anglo-Saxon dæges eye, or “day’s eye,” on account of its sunlike appearance.

Dakota. From the Dacoits, a tribe of Indians found there.

Dale Road. From the residence of Canon Dale, poet, and Vicar of St Pancras.

Dalmatian. A species of dog bred in Dalmatia.

Dalston. The town in the dale when the north of London was more or less wooded.

Damage. See “What’s the Damage?”

Damascenes. From Damascus, famous for its plums.

Damascus. From the Arabic name of the city, Dimiskesh-Shâm.

72Damascus Blade. From Damascus, a city world famous for the temper of its sword blades.

Damask. First made at Damascus in Syria.

Damask Rose. Introduced to Europe from Damascus.

Damassin. A Damask cloth interwoven with flowers of gold or silver.

Dame School. The old name for a girls’ school taught by a spinster or dame.

Damsons. Properly Damascenes, from Damascus.

Dancing Chancellor. Sir Christopher Hatton so pleased Queen Elizabeth by his dancing at a Court masque that she made him a Knight of the Garter; subsequently he became Lord Chancellor of England.

Dandelion. A corruption of the French dent de lion, from its fancied resemblance to a lion’s tooth.

Dandy. From the French dandin, silly fellow, ninny.

Dantzic. Expresses the town settled by the Danes.

Danvers Street. From Danvers House, in which resided Sir John Danvers, to whom the introduction of the Italian style of horticulture in England was due.

Darbies. A pair of handcuffs, in allusion to Darby and Joan, who were inseparable.

Dardanelles. After the city on the Asiatic side founded by Dardanus, the ancestor of Priam, the last king of Troy.

Dark and Bloody Ground. Kentucky, the great battle-ground of the Indians and white settlers, as also that of the savage tribes amongst themselves.

Darmstadt. The stadt, or town, on the Darm.

Dartford. From the Saxon Darentford, the fort on the Darent.

Dartmoor. The moor in which the River Dart takes its rise.

Dartmouth. On the estuary of the River Dart.

73Dauphin. The title borne by the eldest son of the King of France until 1830, from the armorial device of a delphinus, or dolphin.

Davenport. After the original maker.

Davies Street. After Mary Davies, heiress of the manor of Ebury, Pimlico.

Davis Strait. After the navigator who discovered it.

Davy Jones’s Locker. Properly “Duffy Jonah’s Locker.” Duffy is the ghost of the West Indian Negroes; Jonah, the prophet cast into the sea; and “locker,” the ordinary seaman’s chest.

D. D. Cellars. See “Dirty Dick’s.”

Dead as a Door Nail. The reflection that, if a man were to be knocked on the head as often as is the “nail” on which a door knocker rests, he would have very little life left in him, easily accounts for this saying.

Dead Beat. Prostrate from fatigue, incapable of further exertion. Also the name of an American drink of whisky and ginger-soda after a hard night’s carousal.

Deadheads. In America persons who enjoy the right of travelling on a railway system at the public expense; in this country actors and pseudo “professionals,” who pass into places of amusement without paying. The origin of the term is as follows:--More than sixty years ago all the principal avenues of the city of Delaware converged to a toll gate at the entrance to the Elmwood Cemetery Road. The cemetery having been laid out long prior to the construction of the plank road beyond the toll gate, funerals were allowed to pass through the latter toll free. One day as Dr Price, a well-known physician, stopped to pay his toll he observed to the gatekeeper: “Considering the benevolent character of the profession to which I have the honour to belong, I think you ought to let me pass toll free.” “No, no, doctor,” the man replied; “we can’t afford that. You send too many deadheads through here as it is!” The story travelled, and the term “Deadheads” became fixed.

74Dead Reckoning. Calculating a ship’s whereabouts at sea from the log-book without aid from the celestial bodies.

Dead Sea. Traditionally on the site of the city of Sodom. Its waters are highly saline, and no fish are found in them.

Dean Street. After Bishop Compton, who, before he became Dean of the Savoy Chapel, held the living of St Anne’s, Soho.

Dean’s Yard. Affords access to the residence of the Dean of Westminster, which, with the cloisters, belonged to the abbots prior to the Reformation.

Death or Glory Men. The 17th Lancers, from their badge, a Death’s head superposed on the words “Or Glory.”

De Beauvoir Town. From the manorial residence of the De Beauvoirs.

Deccan. From the Sanskrit Dakshina, the south, being that portion of Hindustan south of the Vindhya Mountains.

December. The tenth month of the Roman Calendar when the year was reckoned from March.

Decemvir. One of the ten legislators of Rome appointed to draw up a code of laws.

Decoration Day. 30th May, observed in the United States for decorating the graves of the soldiers who fell in the struggle between the North and South.

Deemster. See “Doomster.”

Dehaley Street. From the residence of the Dehaleys.

Delaware. After the Governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord Delaware, who died on board his vessel while visiting the bay in 1610.

Del Salviati. The assumed name of the famous Italian painter Francesco Rossi, in compliment to his patron, Cardinal Salviati, who was born in the same year as himself.

Demijohn. A corruption of Damaghan, in Persia, a town anciently famous for its glass-ware.

75Democracy. From the Greek demos, people, and kratein, to rule. Government by the people.

Denbigh. From Dinbach, the Celtic for “a little fort.”

Denmark. Properly Danmark, the mark or boundary of the land of the Danes.

Depot. The American term for a railway station.

Deptford. The deep ford over the Ravensbourne.

Derby. Saxon for “deer village.” The Derby stakes at Epsom were founded by Edward Smith Stanley, Earl of Derby, in 1780.

Derrick. The old name for a gibbet and now for a high crane. So called after a seventeenth-century hangman at Tyburn.

Derry Down. The opening words of the Druidical chorus as they proceeded to the sacred grove to gather mistletoe at the winter solstice. Derry is Celtic for “grove.”

Dessborough Place. From Dessbrowe House, in which resided the brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.

Detroit. French for “strait.”

Deuteronomy. A Greek word signifying the second giving of the Law by Moses.

Devereaux Court. See “Essex Street.”

Devil’s Sonata. One of Tartini’s most celebrated compositions. He dreamt that the Evil One appeared to him playing a sonata on the violin. At its conclusion his visitor asked: “Tartini, canst thou play this?” Awaking with his mind still full of the grotesque music, Tartini played it over, and then recorded it permanently on paper.

Devil to Pay. When money was lost by unsuccessful litigation it passed into the hands of lawyers, who were thought to spend it where they spent much of their time--viz. at the Devil Tavern in Fleet Street. The money, therefore, went to the Devil.

76Devizes. From the Latin Devisæ, denoting the point where the old Roman road passed into the district of the Celts.

Devon. After a Celtic tribe, the Damnonii.

Devonshire House. The town house of the Duke of Devonshire.

Devonshire Square. From the mansion of William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire, who died here in 1628.

Diamond King. The late Mr Alfred Beit, the South African financier, whose wealth rivalled that of the Rothschilds.

Dickey. A shirt front, which often has to do duty for a clean shirt. So called from the German decken, to hide.

Diddler. A schemer, an artful dodger. After Jeremy Diddler, the chief character in the old farce, “Raising the Wind.”

Die Hards. The 57th Foot. When the regiment was surrounded at Albuera, their Colonel cried: “Die hard, my lads; die hard!” And fighting, they died.

Digger Indians. Tribes of the lowest class who live principally upon roots. They have never been known to hunt.

Diggings. A Bohemian term for “lodgings.” Not from the Californian gold diggings, as generally supposed, but from the Galena lead miners of Wisconsin, who called both their mines and their underground winter habitations “diggings.”

Dime. A ten-cent piece, from the French dixme, or dîme, tenth--i.e. of a dollar.

Dimity. First brought from Damietta, Egypt.

Dine with Duke Humphrey. An old saying of those who were fated to go dinnerless. When the “Good Duke Humphrey,” son of Henry IV., was buried at St Albans, a monument to his memory was to be erected in St Paul’s Cathedral. At that time, as for long afterwards, the nave of our national fane was 77a fashionable promenade. When the promenaders left for dinner, others who had no dinners to go to explained that they would stay behind in order to look for the Good Duke’s monument.

Dining-room Servant. An Americanism for waiter or male house servant.

Diorama. See “Panorama.”

Dirty Dick’s. The noted tavern in Bishopgate, said to have been associated with Nathaniel Bentley, the miser, who never washed himself. As a matter of fact, Dirty Dick was an ironmonger in Leadenhall Street. After his death his effects were bought and exhibited at the Bishopgate tavern, together with his portrait as a sign.

Dirty Shirts. The 101st Foot, who were hotly engaged at the battle of Delhi in their shirt sleeves.

Dissenters. Synonymous with the Nonconformists. Those who dissented from the doctrines of the Church of England and those likewise who, at a later period, separated from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Distaffs’ Day. The old name for 7th January, when, Christmas being over with Twelfth Night, women returned to their distaffs or spindles.

Divan. A Turkish word signifying a Council of State, from the fact that the Turkish Council Chamber has low couches ranged round its walls, plentifully supplied with cushions. The name has been imported into Western Europe specifically to imply a low-cushioned sofa or couch.

Dixie’s Land. The Negroes’ paradise in slavery days. Dixie had a tract of land on Manhattan Island. He treated his slaves well, but as they increased sold many of them off to masters further afield. They always looked back to Dixie’s Land as an ideal locality, associated with heaven, and when one of them died his kith and kin said he had gone to Dixie’s Land.

Dizzy. The nickname of Benjamin Disraeli, afterwards 78Earl of Beaconsfield, the great political opponent of Mr Gladstone.

Doctor. There are three kinds of Doctors--of Law, Physic, and Divinity. The first and the last are essentially University degrees, with which the vulgar orders of the people have little or no acquaintance. They know only of one “Doctor,” the medical practitioner, and since he wears a frock coat and a silk hat he is entitled to all the respect that they can pay him.

Doctors’ Commons. Anciently a college for Professors of Canon and Civil Law, who dined in common on certain days in each term, similar to students at the Inns of Court before they are called to the Bar.

Dog and Duck. A tavern sign indicative of the old sport of duck hunting by spaniels in a pond.

Dog-cart. Originally one in which sportsmen drove their pointers and setters to the field.

Dog his Footsteps. To follow close to his heels like a dog.

Dog in the Manger. From the old story told of the dog who did not require the hay for himself, yet refused to allow the ox to come near it.

Dog Rose. From the old idea that the root of this rose-tree was an antidote for the bite of a mad dog.

Dog Watch. A corruption of “Dodge Watch,” being a watch of two hours only instead of four, by which dodging seamen gradually shift their watch on successive days.

Dolgelley. Celtic for “dale of hazels.”

Dollar. From the German Thaler, originally Joachims-Thaler, the silver out of which this coin was struck having been found in the Thal or Valley of St Joachim in Bohemia.

Dollars and Dimes. An Americanism for money generally. See “Dime.”

Dolly Shop. The old name for a rag shop which had a 79black doll over the door for a sign. At one time old clothes were shipped to the Negroes in the southern states of America.

Dolly Varden. The name of a flowered skirt, answering to the description of that worn by Dolly Varden in Dickens’s “Barnaby Rudge.” This dress material became very popular after the novel was published. It also gave rise to a song, of which the burden was: “Dressed in a Dolly Varden.”

Dolphin. A gold coin introduced by Charles V. of France, also Dauphin of Vienne.

Dominica. Expresses the Spanish for Sunday, the day on which Columbus discovered this island.

Dominicans. Friars of the Order of St Dominic; also called Black Friars, from their habits.

Dominoes. A game invented by two French monks, who amused themselves with square, flat stones marked with spots. The winner declared his victory by reciting the first line of the Vesper service: “Dixit Dominus Domino Meo.” When, later, the game became the recreation of the whole convent, the Vesper line was abbreviated into “Domino,” and the stones themselves received the name of “Dominoes.”

Don. A corruption of the Celtic tain, river.

Donatists. A sect of the fourth century, adherents of Donatus, Bishop of Numidia.

Doncaster St Leger. The stakes at Doncaster races founded by Colonel Anthony St Leger in 1776.

Donegal. Gaelic for the “fortress of the west”--viz. Donegal Castle, held by the O’Donnels of Tyrconnel.

Donet. The old name for a Grammar, after Donatus, the grammarian and preceptor of St Jerome.

Donkey. An ass, from its dun colour.

Don’t care a Dam. When this expression first obtained currency a dam was the smallest Hindoo coin, not worth an English farthing.

80Don’t care a Jot. See “Iota.”

Doomster. The official in the Scottish High Court who pronounced the doom to the prisoner, and also acted as executioner. In Jersey and the Isle of Man a judge is styled a “Deemster.”

Dope Habit. An Americanism for the morphia habit. “Dope” is the Chinese word for opium. This in the United States is now applied to all kinds of strong drugs or bromides prepared from opium.

Dorcas Society. From the passage in Acts ix. 39: “And all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.”

Dorchester. The Roman camp in the district of the Dwr-trigs or water dwellers. See “Dorset.”

Dorset. The Anglo-Saxon Dwrset, or water settlement, so called from the British tribe the Dwr-trigs, “water dwellers,” who peopled it.

Dorset Square. After Viscount Portman, the ground landlord, who, before he was raised to the peerage, was for many years Member for Dorsetshire.

Dorset Street. From the mansion and grounds of the Earl of Dorset of the Restoration period. Here stood also the Dorset Gardens Theatre.

Doss. Slang for a sleep, a shakedown. From the old word dossel, a bundle of hay or straw, whence was derived Doss, a straw bed.

Doss-house. A common lodging-house. See “Doss.”

Douay Bible. The Old Testament translation of the Latin Vulgate printed at the English College at Douay, France, in 1609.

Doublet. So called because it was double lined or wadded, originally for purposes of defence.

Douglas. From its situation at the juncture of the two streams, the Dhoo, black, and Glass, grey.

Douro. From the Celtic Dwr, water.

81Dover House. The residence of the Hon. George Agar Ellis, afterwards Lord Dover.

Dover Street. After Henry Jermyn, Lord Dover, who died at his residence here in 1782.

Dowager. The widow of a person of high rank, because she enjoyed a substantial dower or dowry for her maintenance during life.

Dowgate. From the Celtic Dwr, water. Hence a water gate on the north bank of the Thames.

Downing Street. From the mansion of Sir George Downing, M.P., of the Restoration period.

Down with the Dust. A gold miner’s expression in the Far West, where money is scarce and necessary commodities are in general bartered for with gold dust.

Doyley. From the Brothers Doyley, linen drapers in the Strand, who introduced this species of table napery.

Do your Level Best. This expression means that, while striving to the utmost you must also act strictly straightforward.

Drachenfels. German for “dragon rocks.” Here Siegfried, the hero of the Niebelungenlied, slew the dragon.

Draft on Aldgate Pump. A punning phrase for a worthless bill or cheque.

Draggletail. A slovenly woman who allows her skirts to draggle or trail in the mire of the street.

Dragoman. From the Turkish drukeman, an interpreter. A dragoman is in the East what a “Cicerone” is in Italy and elsewhere in Western Europe.

Dragoons. From the ancient musket called a dragon, or “spitfire.” The muzzle was embellished with a representation of a dragon.

Draper. One who dealt in cloth for draping only, as distinct from a mercer, milliner, or mantle-maker.

Drapers’ Gardens. The property of the Drapers’ Company, whose hall is situated here.

82Drat it. A corruption of “Odd rot it,” from the old oath, “God rot them.”

Drawer. The old name for an inn or tavern keeper’s assistant, who drew the beer from the casks.

Drawing-room. Originally “Withdrawing-room” to which the ladies withdrew after dinner while the gentlemen sat over their wine.

Draw it mild. Originally a tavern phrase, when anyone preferred ordinary ale to hot spiced liquor.

Draw the Long Bow. In allusion to the exaggerated skill of the English archers prior to the introduction of gunpowder.

Dress Circle. That portion of a theatre which, before the introduction of stalls, was set apart for the superior sections of the audience.

Dressed up to the Knocker. To the extreme height of his resources. Before the establishment of the modern police system door knockers were placed as high as possible to prevent them from being wrenched off by sportive wags after nightfall.

Dresser. The kitchen sideboard, on which the meat was dressed before serving it up in the dining-chamber. The collection of cups, plates, and dishes which distinguishes a dresser originally had a place on a wide shelf or board over this meat dresser; hence cup-board.

Drinks like a Fish. Ready to swallow any quantity of liquor that may be offered. A great many fish have their mouths wide open whilst swimming.

Drive a Bargain. An expression meaning to knock down the original price asked, in punning allusion to “driving” a nail.

Drop o’ the Crater. See “Mountain Dew.”

Druid. In the Celtic Derwydd, derived from dewr, oak, and gwydd, knowledge. A priest who worshipped and offered sacrifices under an oak.

83Drum. The name for a fashionable evening party of bygone days, from the noise made by the card players.

Drummers. An Americanism for commercial travellers, who are engaged in beating up trade.

Drunkard’s Cloak. A large wooden crinoline that hung from a drunkard’s neck to the ground, causing every bone in his body to ache owing to the weight resting on his shoulders. The instrument resembled an inverted flower pot, having a hole in the top for his head to be thrust through. Under this drastic treatment he soon became sober.

Drunk as a Fiddler. The fiddler was generally incapable of discoursing further music half way through the night’s jollification, because the dancers freely plied him with drink.

Drunk as a Lord. When George the Third was King, and long afterwards, the fine old English gentleman acted up to his character by using strong language and imbibing strong potations. To be “drunk as a lord” was the surest mark of gentility, and a “three bottle man” a pattern of sobriety. After dining it was considered no disgrace to roll helplessly under the table.

Drury Lane. From Drury House, the residence of Sir William Drury, temp. William III.

Dublin. From Dubh-linn, “black pool.”

Dub Up. An expression derived from the very general custom of dubbing or touching a man on the shoulder when arresting him for debt.

Ducat. Duke’s money, anciently struck in the Duchy of Apulia, Sicily.

Duchess Street. After Lady Cavendish, who became the wife of the second Duke of Portland.

Ducking Stool. An instrument for the punishment of scolding wives. This public ducking in a pond effectually served to cool their temper for the time being.

84Duck’s Foot Lane. Properly “Duke’s Foot Lane,” the footway leading from the town house of the Earls of Suffolk down to the Thames.

Dude. An American name for a fop, derived from a very old English word, “dudes,” whence we have the slang term “Duds,” for clothes.

Dudley. From the castle built by Dodo, a Saxon prince, and ley, “meadow.”

Duds. See “Dude.”

Dug-out. A Far West Americanism for a boat or canoe hewn out of a large tree log.

Dukeries. That portion of Nottinghamshire distinguished for the number of ducal residences, of which Welbeck Abbey is perhaps the most admired.

Duke Street. In Aldgate, after the Dukes of Norfolk. Near Smithfield, the ancient property of the Dukes of Brittany. In Grosvenor Square, after the Duke of Cumberland. Off Langham Place, after the Duke of Portland. Near Manchester Square, after the Duke of Manchester. In the Strand, after George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.

Dulwich. The corruption of Dalewich, the village in the dale.

Duma. Russian for Parliament or popular representation.

Dumb Ox. One of the sobriquets of St Thomas Aquinas, from the silence with which he pursued his studies. His master, Albertus Magnus, however, predicted that “this dumb ox will one day fill the world with his bellowing.”

Dumping. A word which has come into prominence relative to Mr Chamberlain’s Fiscal Policy. In various forms the verb dump may be met with in Teutonic and Scandinavian tongues, meaning to “pitch down,” “throw down in a lump,” etc. etc. A “Dump Cart” in America is one that tilts up in front, and so “dumps” its load behind.

85Dun. A persistent creditor. After Joe Dun, a noted bailiff, who never failed to bring a debtor to book. People used to say: “Why don’t you Dun him for the debt?” meaning they would send Joe Dun to make him pay or arrest him.

Dunce. From John Duns Scotus, who, it is said, gave no proof of his remarkable attainments in his early scholastic days.

Dundee. A corruption of Duntay, the hill fort on the Tay.

Dunedin. See “Edinburgh.”

Dungeness. A corruption of Danger Ness, the Headland of Danger.

Dunkirk. Expresses the “Church in the Dunes,” or sand-hills, built by St Eloi in the seventh century.

Durham. A corruption of Dunholm, from its situation on a hill surrounded by the river.

Dusseldorf. The village on the Dussel.

Dutchman. A contemptuous epithet applied to our phlegmatic enemies during the wars with Holland.

Dyers’ Buildings. The site of an ancient almshouse of the Dyers’ Company.

E

Eagle. An inn sign, the cognisance of Queen Mary.

Earl Street. After Charles Marsham, Earl of Romney.

Earl’s Court. From the Earl of Warwick, whose estate it was until, by the marriage of the Dowager Countess of Warwick with Lord Holland, it passed into her husband’s family.

East Anglia. A name still popular as defining the eastern counties. This was one of the seven divisions or petty kingdoms of England under the Angles or Saxons.

86Eastcheap. The eastern chepe, or market, of the city of London.

Easter. From the Teutonic Ostara, goddess of light or spring; rendered by the Anglo-Saxons Eastre. This great spring festival lasted eight days.

Easter Island. The name given to it by Jacob Roggevin when he visited the island on Easter Sunday, 1722.

East Sheen. A name reminiscent of the original designation of “Richmond.”

Eat Dirt. An Americanism for a confession of penitence or absolute defeat in an argument.

Eat Humble Pie. In the days of sumptuous banquets of venison the lords of the feast reserved to themselves the flesh of the deer. The huntsmen and retainers had to be content with the heart, liver, and entrails, collectively called the “umbles,” which were made into monster pies.

Eat my own Words. To take them back again, to retract a statement.

Eaton Square. From Eaton Hall, near Chester, the seat of the Duke of Westminster, the ground landlord.

Eau de Cologne. A scent prepared at Cologne. The city itself is not sweet to the nostrils; it has been said that forty different smells may be distinguished there.

Eavesdropper. A corruption of Eavesdripper, one who, listening under the eaves of a house, caught the drips from the roof when it chanced to be raining.

Ebro. After the Iberi, who spread themselves over the country from the banks of this river. See “Iberia.”

Ebury Square. From the ancient manor of Eabury Farm, inherited by Mary Davies, and which, by her marriage, passed into the possession of the Grosvenor family.

Eccleston Square. From Eccleston, Cheshire, the country seat of the Grosvenors.

Ecuador. Expresses the Spanish for Equator.

87Edgar Atheling. Signifies “Edgar of noble descent.”

Edinburgh. The fortress or burgh built by Edwin, King of Northumbria. The Scots called it Dunedin.

Edinburgh of America. Albany, in the state of New York, so called on account of its magnificent public buildings and its commanding situation.

Edmonton. In Anglo-Saxon days Edmund’s Town.

Edmund Ironside. So called from the suit of chain mail that he wore. Notwithstanding this protection he was treacherously murdered after a reign of nine months only.

Edward the Confessor. The title bestowed upon the King of the Anglo-Saxons at his canonisation, on account of his remarkable asceticism, since, although he made the daughter of Earl Godwin his queen, he denied himself what are styled conjugal rights.

Edward the Martyr. Murdered at the instance of his stepmother at Corfe Castle after having reigned scarcely three years.

Eel Pie Island. From the invariable dinner dish served up to river excursionists.

Effra Road. At Camberwell, from the little river of the same name, now converted into a sewer.

Egalité. The name assumed by Philippe, Duc d’Orleans, the father of Louis Philippe, King of France, when, siding with the Republican Party in 1789, he accepted their motto: “Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality.” Four years later he met his death by the guillotine.

Ehrenbreitstein. Expresses the German for “Honour’s Broad Stone.” The castle stands on a precipitous rock, which well merits the description of the “Gibraltar of the Rhine.”

Eisteddfod. Celtic for a gathering of Welsh bards, from eistodd, to sit. As of old, the annual “Eisteddfod” is held for the encouragement of national music.

88Eldorado. California. Eldorado expresses the Spanish for “golden region.”

Electic Philosophers. Those who, agreeably to the Greek ek-lego, to pick out, selected what was best in the different schools or systems, and so built up one of their own.

Elephant and Castle. The famous landmark in South London derived its sign from the arms of the Cutlers’ Company. A tavern in St Pancras parish took its sign from the skeleton of an elephant, beside which was a flint-headed spear, dug up in the neighbourhood. The connection between these and the battle fought by the followers of Queen Boadicea against the Roman invaders was unmistakable.

Elephant stepped on his Purse. An Americanism implying that a creditor or some unlucky speculation has squeezed all the money out of a man.

Elgin Marbles. Brought from Greece by the seventh Earl of Elgin. Acquired by the nation for the British Museum in 1816.

Elia. The pseudonym of Charles Lamb for his “Essays” contributed to The London Magazine. This was the name of a gay, light-hearted foreigner, who fluttered about the South Sea House at the time when Lamb was a clerk there. At the moment of penning his signature to the first essay he bethought himself of that person, and substituted the name of Elia for his own.

Eltham. Anciently Ealdham, “the old home.” Here Anthony Bec, the “Battling Bishop of Durham,” built himself a palace midway in the thirteenth century. After his death it fell to the Crown, and became a Royal residence, until the time of James I. The original Banqueting-Hall, used in modern days as a barn, may yet be seen.

Ely Place. Marks the site of the residence of the Bishops of Ely.

89Ember Days. This term has no connection with embers or sackcloth and ashes as a penitential observance. The Saxons called them Ymbrine dagas, or “running days,” because they came round at regular seasons of the year.

Emerald Isle. Ireland, from its fresh verdure, due to its shores being washed by the warm waters of the “Gulf Stream.”

Empire Day. May 24th, formerly the Queen’s Birthday. In the last days of Victoria the British Empire was consolidated through the assistance lent by the Colonies to the Mother Country in the South African War. When, therefore, King Edward VII. came to the throne, the former Queen’s Birthday was invested with a greater significance than of old.

Empire State. New York, which, owing to position and commercial enterprise, has no rival among the other states of the Union.

Empire State of the South. Georgia, in consequence of its rapid industrial development.

Ena Road. In honour of Princess Ena, the consort of the young King of Spain.

Encore. From the Latin hauc horam, till this hour, still, again.

Encyclopædia. A book containing general or all-round instruction or information, from the Greek enkylios, circular or general, and paideia, instruction. An epitome of the whole circle of learning.

Endell Street. After the name of the builder. This is one of the few streets in London that has preserved its old characteristics, steadfastly refusing to march with the times.

England. In the time of Alfred the Great our country was styled Engaland, or the land of the Engles or Angles, who came over from Jutland.

Englishman’s House is his Castle. By the law of the land a bailiff must effect a peaceable entrance in order to 90distrain upon a debtor’s goods; therefore the latter is, as it were, sufficiently secure in his own fortress if he declines to give the enemy admittance.

Ennis. Expresses in Ireland, like Innis, the Celtic for an island. Both these words enter largely into Irish place-names.

Enniskillen. The kirk town on an island, the Celtic kil, originally implying a hermit’s cell, and later a chapel.

Ennismore Place. After Viscount Ennismore, Earl of Listowel, the ground landlord.

Enough is as good as a Feast. Because at no time can a person eat more than enough.

Enrol. See “Roll Call.”

Entente Cordiale. Expresses the French for cordial good will.

Entire. A word still to be met with on old tavern signs. It meant different qualities of ale or beer drawn from one cask.

Entrées. French for entries or commencements. Those made dishes are served after the soups, as an introduction to the more substantial portions of the repast, the joints.

Epicure. After Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, who taught that pleasure and good living constituted the happiness of mankind. His followers were styled Epicureans.

Epiphany. From the Greek Epiphaneia, an appearance, a showing; relative to the adoration of the Magi, who came from the East twelve days after the birth of the Saviour.

Epsom Salts. From the mineral springs at Epsom.

Equality State. Wyoming, where, first among the communities of the world, women were accorded the right to vote.

Erie. Indian for “Wild Cat,” the fierce tribe exterminated by the Iroquois.

91Escurial. Properly Escorial, Spanish for “among the rocks.” King Philip II. built this superb convent and palace after the battle of St Quentin, in the course of which he had been obliged to bombard a monastery of the Order of St Jerome. He dedicated it to St Lawrence. He caused the structure to be in the form of a gridiron, the symbol of the Saint’s martyrdom.

Esk. A river name derived from the Celtic uisg, water.

Esquimaux. An Alonquin Indian term signifying “eaters of raw flesh.”

Essex. The kingdom of the East Saxons under the Heptarchy.

Essex Street. From the mansion of Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the Parliamentary General in Cromwell’s time.

Ethelred the Unready. From his incapacity and unwillingness to accept rede, or counsel.

Ethiopia. From the Greek aithein, to burn, and ops, the face. Hence “the country of the blacks.”

Etiquette. A French word for “label.” Formerly a ticket or card of instructions was handed to visitors on ceremonial occasions. Nowadays such rules as pertain to deportment or decorum are supposed to enter into the education of all well-bred persons.

Etna. From the Phœnician attuna, a furnace.

Eton. The Anglo-Saxon Eyton, “island town.”

Ettrick Shepherd. The literary sobriquet of James Hogg, the poet, of Ettrick, Selkirkshire.

Europe. From the Greek euros, broad, and ops, the face; literally “the broad face of the earth.”

Euston Road. From the seat of the Earl of Euston at Thetford, Norfolk, the ground landlord.

Evacuation Day. November 25th, observed in the United States as commemorating the evacuation of New York city by the British after the War of Independence, 1783.

92Evangelist. From the Greek euanggelion, “good news.” One of the four writers of the Gospels of the New Testament.

Evelyn Street. From the residence of John Evelyn, the diarist. One of his descendants, the Rev. W. J. Evelyn, of Wolton, built the church of St Luke, Deptford, in 1872.

Everglade State. Florida, from its tracts of land, covered with water and grass, called Everglades.

Ex. Another form of the Celtic uisg, water.

Exchequer. The table of this Court was formerly covered with checkered cloth, so called from the Old French eschequier, chess board.

Executive City. Washington, which contains the White House, the official residence of the President of the Republic, the House of Representatives, and the Senate Chamber.

Exellers. The 40th Foot, from the Roman numerals XL.

Exeter. Called by the Saxons Exancester, or the Roman camp town on the Exe.

Exeter College. Founded at Oxford by Walter Stapleton, Bishop of Exeter and Lord Treasurer of England, in 1316.

Exeter Street. From the mansion and grounds of the Earl of Exeter, the eldest son of the great Lord Burleigh.

Exhibition Road. This wide thoroughfare formed the eastern boundary of the plot of ground purchased by the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition of 1862.

Exodus. The Scriptural narrative of the departure of the Israelites from the Land of Bondage.

Eye. Expresses the Anglo-Saxon for island. The river Waveney surrounds the town.

Eye-opener. An American drink of mixed spirits as a remedy for drowsiness.

93

F

Face the Music. To bear the jeers and taunts of those who laugh at us.

Factory King. Richard Oastler of Bradford, the promoter of the “Ten Hours’ Bill.”

Fag. Slang for a cigarette, derived from the fag end--i.e. fatigued or spent end--of a cigar. Also a small boy who acts as a drudge in the service of another at a public school, so called from the Anglo-Saxon fæge, weak, timid.

Fair Cop. Thieves’ slang for a smart capture by the police. Whereas another would say “The game’s up!” a thief admits that he has been fairly caught by the expression “It’s a fair cop.” See “Cop.”

Fair Maid of Kent. Joan, the beautiful and only daughter of the Earl of Kent, who became the wife of Edward the Black Prince.

Fair Street. A name left us as a reminder of a once celebrated fair on the Southwark bank of the Thames.

Faith Healers. A sect which upholds the doctrine of healing the sick by prayer and anointing with oil in the name of the Lord, as set forth in James v. 13-15.

Faix. An Irishman’s exclamation for “Faith” or “In Faith.”

Fake. To make-believe or cheat. An actor is said to “fake up” an article of costume out of very sorry materials, which at a distance looks like the real thing. A photographer can “fake” a spirit photo by means of two distinct plates. Food also is largely “faked.” The word is derived from “Fakir.”

Fakir. From the Arabic fakhar, poor.

Falcon Square. From an ancient hostelry, “The Castle and Falcon,” hard by in Aldersgate Street.

Falernian. A celebrated wine, extolled by Horace, Virgil, 94and other Latin authors, prepared from grapes grown in the district of Falernicum.

Fall. An Americanism for autumn, in allusion to the fall of the leaves.

Fallopian Tubes. Said to have been discovered by Gabriel Fallopius, the eminent Italian anatomist of the sixteenth century. They were, however, known to the ancients.

Falls City. Louisville, in the state of Kentucky, because it overlooks the falls of the Ohio River.

Falmouth. A seaport at the mouth of the Fale.

Family Circle. This expression had a literal meaning in the time of the Normans, when the fire occupied the centre of the floor, and the smoke found its vent through a hole in the roof. In Germany and Russia the domestic apartments are economically warmed by an enclosed stove in the centre. Amongst ourselves the phrase “sit round the fire” only conveys a half-truth.

Fancy Drink. An Americanism for a concoction of various spirits, as distinguished from a Straight Drink of one kind.

Fandago. Spanish for a “lively dance.”

Farmer George. George III., on account of his dress, manners, and bucolic sporting inclinations.

Farm Street. From an old farm, on the land of Lord Berkeley of Stratton in the time of Charles I.

Faro. So called from a representation of Pharaoh on one of the cards originally.

Farringdon Road. After William FarringdonFarringdon, citizen and goldsmith, who, for the sum of twenty marks, in 1279 purchased the Aldermanry of the ward named after him.

Farthing. From the Anglo-Saxon feorthling, a little fourth. In olden times penny pieces were nicked across like a 95Good Friday bun; so they could be broken into halves and fourths as occasion required.

Farthingale. A corruption of Verdingale, from the French vertugarde, a guard for modesty. Queen Elizabeth is said to have introduced this hooped petticoat in order to disguise her figure.

Farthing Poet. The sobriquet of Richard Horne, who published his chief poem, “Orion,” at one farthing, so that it should not want for buyers.

Fastern’s E’en. The Scottish description of Shrove Tuesday, being the eve of the Lenten Fast.

Father of Believers. Mohammed, because he established and promulgated the faith of the Moslem, or “true believers.”

Father of the Music Halls. The late William Morton, manager of the Palace Theatre of Varieties, and founder of the earliest London Music Hall, “The Canterbury,” in the Westminster Bridge Road, which dates from the year 1848.

Fathers of the Church. The great doctors or theological writers of the period from the first to the seventh centuries of Christianity. See “Apostolic Fathers.”

Faugh-a-Ballagh Boys. The 87th Foot, from their battle cry.

Feast of Lanterns. A Chinese festival which occurs on the fifteenth day of the first moon of the year. Walking by the side of a beautiful lake one night the daughter of a mandarin fell in, and was drowned. When her father heard of the accident he, attended by all his household, carrying lanterns, rushed to the spot. On the anniversary he caused fires to be lighted beside the lake, and invited all the people of the country round about to offer up prayers for the safety of her soul. In course of time the solemn character of the gathering was forgotten, and the day has ever since been observed as a national holiday.

Feast of Tabernacles. Commemorative of the forty years’ 96wandering of the Israelites in search of the Promised Land, during which long period they dwelt in temporary huts or tabernacles, formed of tree branches covered with leaves. Even at the present day the Jews at least take their meals in temporary structures covered with leaves throughout the nine days of the festival.

Feather in my Cap. An expression derived from a custom of the North American Indians, who stuck a fresh feather in their head-dress for every one of their enemies slain in battle.

Feathers. An inn sign originally, when the painted device appeared in place of the mere name, signifying the “Plume of Feathers,” or “Prince of Wales’s Feathers,” the crest of Edward the Black Prince.

February. From the Latin februare, to purify, this being the month appointed by the Romans for the festival of the Februalia of purification and expiation.

Federal States. During the American Civil War the Treaty States of the North, which resisted the Separatist or Confederate States in the South.

Feel Peckish. See “Keep your Pecker up.”

Fellah. Arabic for agriculturist or peasant. In the plural, “El Fellahin,” the term is specifically applied to the labouring population of Egypt.

Fenchurch Street. From an ancient church in the fens or marshy ground through which ran the Lang Bourne from Beach Lane to the Wall brook behind the Stocks Market, where the Mansion House now stands.

Fenians. Said to express the Gaelic for “hunters,” but the greater likelihood is that this secret society took the name of the Finna Eirinii, ancient organisation of Irish militia, so called after Fion MacCumhal, the hero of legendary history.

Fetter Lane. A corruption of “Fewters Lane,” from the Norman-French faitour, an evil-doer, on account of the idle vagabonds who infested it in days when this lane led to some pleasure gardens.

97Feuilleton. Expresses the French for a small leaf. Like the serial stories nowadays in many English newspapers, articles of a non-political character were introduced in the French Journal des Debatés as long ago as the commencement of the nineteenth century, these being separated from the news by a line towards the bottom of each page.

Fez. From Fez in Morocco, whence this red cap of the Turks was introduced into the Ottoman Empire.

F. F. V. Initials well understood in America, implying the “First Families of Virginia.”

Fiddler’s Money. A threepenny piece. Originally it was a small coin paid by each of the dancers to the fiddler at a merry-making.

Fifth Monarchy Men. Religious fanatics of the time of Charles I. who proclaimed the second coming of Christ to establish the fifth monarchy, or millennium. The four previous great monarchies of the world were the Assyrian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman.

Fifty Club. A social club founded in 1899 by G. C. Paterson, incidentally for the entertainment of its members on the attainment of their fiftieth birthday.

Fighting Fifth. The 5th Foot, on account of their prowess during the Peninsular War.

Fighting Fitzgerald. George Robert Fitzgerald, a noted gamester and duellist of the eighteenth century, with whom no one ever picked a quarrel without falling by his hand. A sure shot and an expert swordsman, he was a man to be feared by all.

Fight Shy. Originally a prize-fighting expression, when one of the combatants betrayed a lack of courage.

Filberts. After St Philibert, on whose feast day, 22nd August, the nutting season commenced.

Filibuster. A Spanish and French corruption of the German freibeter, derived from the Dutch vlie-boot, or fly-boat, a small clipper vessel. This was introduced 98into England during the wars with the Low Countries. The word Freebooter claims the same origin.

Finality John. The sobriquet of John Russell, afterwards Earl Russell, from his conviction that the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832 would be a finality to the universal Suffrage Question.

Finch Lane. Properly Finke Lane, after Sir Richard Finke, who resided in it, and rebuilt the church of St Bennet on the site of the present Royal Exchange. A tradesman in Cheapside rejoices in the possession of the full name of this vanished church, St Bennet-Finke.

Fingal’s Cave. That of Fion MacCumhal, abbreviated into Fingal, a celebrated legendary hero.

Finland. Properly Fenland, the land of lakes and marshes. The native name of the country is Suomesimaa, the watered land of the Suomes.

Finsbury. From the Anglo-Saxon Fensbury, the town among the fens or marshes.

Finsbury Pavement. The first London thoroughfare where the paving of the side walk with flagstones was introduced.

Fire dogs. These adjuncts to an old-fashioned fireplace received their name from the small dog that was anciently imprisoned in a wheel at one end of the spit. Three hours of this canine exercise were required to prepare the roast beef of Old England for the table. If the dog refused to exert himself a live coal was put inside the wheel to accelerate his movements.

Fire Water. The North American Indian designation of rum, and ardent spirits generally.

Fire Worshippers. The Parsees, who worship the sun as the symbol of the Deity.

First Gentleman of Europe. The complimentary sobriquet of George IV., owing to his rank, personal attractions, and the ability, as became a gentleman of the period, of telling good stories well.

99Firth of Forth. Firth expresses the Gaelic for an estuary or arm of the sea. Forth is the name of the river.

Fish Street Hill. From the fishmongers who first congregated here in the reign of Edward I. The Hall of the Fishmongers’ Company stands at the foot of London Bridge.

Fit-up. In theatrical parlance the entire appurtenances of a stage, excepting the floor only, carried from town to town, and fitted up in Town Halls, Assembly-rooms, and Corn Exchanges.

Fitzroy Square. From one of the family names of the ground landlord.

Fives. An old game at ball, usually played by five on each side. The “court” consists of a roomy space with a high wall at one end.

Fixings. An Americanism for dress ornaments or accessories; house, hotel, or theatre embellishments and decorations generally.

Flamingo. From the bright red colour of this tropical bird.

Flanders. From the native name Vländergau, the country of the Vländer, who from the earliest period of their history were ruled by counts.

Flannelled Fools. An opprobrious epithet bestowed upon the English people on account of their all-pervading sport of cricket by Rudyard Kipling. It gave rise to much acrimony at the time, and tended to lessen his popularity as a writer.

Flash Jewellery. Spurious, not what it pretends to be. Like a flash of fire, its brilliance is only fleeting.

Flask Walk. In this pleasant lane stands the old hostelry “The Flash.”

Fleet Road. All that is left us to remind one of the clear stream which coursed through the meadows down to Holborn (the Old Bourne) and Clerkenwell, emptying itself into the Thames in what is now Bridge Street, Blackfriars.

100Fleet Street. The River Fleet, which in old days was navigable from the Thames as far as what is now Ludgate Circus. The old English word Fleot expressed a tidal stream deep enough for vessels to float in.

Fleetwood Road. Here stood Fleetwood House, the residence of Charles Fleetwood, the Parliamentary General.

Fleshly School of Poetry. That of the sensuous order, popularised by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Swinburne, and Morris.

Flint. From the flint or quartz which abounds in this country.

Floralia. A Roman festival in honour of Flora, commencing 28th April and terminating 2nd May. It was said to have been instituted at the command of an oracle with a view of obtaining from the goddess the protection of blossoms.

Florence. Expresses “The City of Flowers.”

Florida. Named by Ponce de Leon from the twofold circumstance of his landing upon it on Pascua Florida, or Easter Sunday, and the luxuriance of its vegetation.

Florin. A silver coin of the value of two shillings, originally struck at Florence. It still bears on its reverse side a representation of a lily, symbolical of “The City of Flowers.”

Flower Sermon. An annual observance at the Church of St Katherine Cree, Leadenhall Street, inaugurated by the rector, the Rev. Dr Whittemore, in 1853. The flowers of the earth form the text; the pulpit is richly adorned with flowers; and every member of the congregation brings a bouquet. The idea of the flower service, if not the sermon, has been largely copied in various parts of the country.

Flunkey. From the French flanquer, the henchman or groom who ran at the flank or side of his mounted master.

101Fly. Provincial for a hansom cab. When one looks at such a hackney carriage it suggests a sedan-chair on wheels. Such a vehicle, introduced at Brighton for invalids, was a great favourite with George IV. thenthen Prince of Wales, who often requisitioned it for a night frolic. Called by him on account of its lightness a “fly-by-night,” its name became abbreviated into a “fly.”

Fly Posting. A showman’s phrase for small bills posted hurriedly in all possible conspicuous places under cover of night.

Fly-up-the-Creeks. The people of Florida, who were wont to disappear on the approach of strangers.

F. M. Allen. The pseudonym of Mr Edward Downey at the time when he was also a publisher. F. M. Allen was his wife’s maiden name.

Foley Street. After the town house of Lord Foley.

Fontagne. A wire structure for raising the hair of ladies, introduced by the Duchesse de Fontagne, one of the mistresses of Louis XIV. of France.

Fontinalia. Roman festivals in honour of the nymphs of wells and fountains. It was from these that the English and French custom of “Well Dressing” in the month of May found its origin.

Foolscap. A size of paper which from time immemorial has had for its watermark a fool’s cap and bells.

Footpad. Originally a thief or highway robber who wore padded shoes.

Fop. From the German and Dutch foppen, to jeer at, make a fool of. This word must be very old, since Vanbrugh gave the name of Lord Foppington to a conceited coxcomb in this comedy “The Relapse,” 1697.

Forecastle. The quarters apportioned to the seamen in the fore end of a vessel. Anciently the whole forward portion bore the name of Aforecastle on account of “The Castle” or State Cabin erected in a castle-like form in the centre.

102Forefathers’ Day. December 21st, commemorated in the New England States on account of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620.

Forest City. Cleveland (Ohio) and Portland (Maine), on account of the trees which characterise their beautiful avenues.

Forest Gate. The district which in modern times has sprung up south of the old gate leading into Epping Forest. A representation of the gate appears on the curtain of the local public hall, or, as it is now styled, “The Grand Theatre.”

Forest Hill. A name reminiscent of days when this portion of South London as far as Croydon was forest land.

Fore Street. The street in front of the London Wall, the Barbican or watch-tower, and Cripple Gate.

Forget-me-not. A flower emblematical of friendship or a keepsake. The story goes that a German knight, walking on the banks of the Danube with his lady, undertook, at her request, to gather a tuft of Mysotis palustris, growing in the water. Encumbered by his armour, he was carried away by the stream, and sank, after having thrown the flowers to his mistress, exclaiming: “Vergess mein nicht!”

Forlorn Hope. From the German verloren, lost. A company of soldiers ordered upon such a perilous enterprise, that there is small hope of their return.

Formosa. A Portuguese word signifying “beautiful.”

Fortino. A clipped phrase in several of the states of North America, from “For aught I know.”

Foster Lane. From the Church of St Vedast, the name of a Bishop of Arras. How Vedast came to be Anglicised into Foster is not explained.

Foul-weather Jack. Commodore John Byron, the circumnavigator of the eighteenth century. Whenever he put out to sea he was sure to experience foul weather.

Four Hundred. The Select or “Smart” Society of New York city.

103Fourteen Hundred. The cry raised when a stranger is discovered in the Stock Exchange, whereupon he is immediately hustled out. This had its origin in the circumstance that for a great many years the recognised full membership on ’Change was 1399.

Fourth Estate. The Press. Edward Burke referred to the Reporters’ Gallery as more powerful than the three great estates of the realm--viz. the Lords Spiritual, the Lords Temporal, and the Commons.

Fox in the Hole. An inn or tavern sign contiguous to the hunting field.

Frame House. The American term for a house built of timber. Chinatown, or the Chinese quarter of the city of San Francisco, was entirely constructed of “frame houses.”

Franc. A silver coin of Franconia or France.

France. Anciently Franconia, the country of the Franks, so called from the franca, a kind of javelin with which they armed themselves when this people effected the conquest of Gaul.

Franciscans. Friars of the Order of St Francis of Assisi. Originally the Grey Friars, their habits are now brown. One of the rules laid down by their pious founder was that the brethren should always be clad like the poorest of the poor. He selected the loose sack of grey, undyed wool, bound round the waist by a cord of the Umbrian Shepherds. Towards the close of the fifteenth century the better classes affected gaudy colours, and the poorer orders, imitating them so far as the use of dyed materials was concerned, took to wearing garments of sober brown. Hence the change in the colour of the Franciscan habit.

Frankincense. Incense brought to the East from “Franconia.”

Freak Dinner. A latter-day term, arising out of the examples set by American millionaires to outdo all previous attempts in the way of sumptuous banquets. 104There have been dinners costing £100 per head. To please the eye, champagne has been made to flow wastefully from a fountain. The name is, however, more correctly applied to the scenic embellishments, as when the banqueting-chamber of the Gaiety Restaurant was converted into a South African mining tent, and real Kaffirs were the waiters, to remind the diners of the mode by which they had acquired their wealth.

Freebooter. See “Filibuster.”

Free Church of Scotland. The adherents of Dr Chalmers, who separated from the Scottish Presbyterian Church to establish an independent community, 18th May 1843.

Free House. A public-house, of which the landlord, being his own master, is at full liberty to change his brewer if the quality of the liquor supplied to him does not give complete satisfaction. See “Tied House.”

Free-lance. An unattached journalist who sends out his literary wares on approval. The term has been derived from those roving companies of knights who, at the close of the Wars of the Crusades, were ready to enlist under any banner for a monetary consideration. Like the mercenaries of the Carthaginians and Romans, these were the first paid soldiers.

Free List. A list kept by theatrical managers of Men about Town, barristers, medical men, and others, who can be relied upon to “dress the house” at short notice when business is bad, and so give it an air of prosperity. These are not “Deadheads” in the ordinary sense, because they render the management a service; but being well able to pay for seats at all times they are apt to be obnoxious in their demands when the entertainment really draws good houses. Hence the notice “Free list entirely suspended” at such times.

Freemasons. A brotherhood of masons who in the Mediæval Ages built the cathedrals which are even 105now lasting mementoes of their skill. They travelled from one city to another, always employed in the same devoted work, and, to prove that they were master craftsmen, invented various symbols, by which they could be recognised. Everywhere these masons enjoyed immunity from taxation and military service. Hence they received the name of “free-masons.”

Freeze on to him. To cling to a man as hoarfrost clings to wood in winter.

Freight Train. An Americanism for goods train.

Freshman. An undergraduate in his first year at a university.

Friar. Agreeably to the Latin fratre, brother. This term signifies a member of a religious community as distinguished from a monk (Greek, monas, alone), who was originally a hermit, and, except when at meals or at prayers in the monastery, spends his time in a cell.

Friar Street. Marks the eastern boundary of the monastery of the Dominicans or Black Friars anciently located south of Ludgate Hill.

Friar Tuck. So called because, like that of all friars, his habit was tucked or drawn up round the cord that encircled his waist.

Friday. In the Scandinavian mythology this day of the week was set apart for the worship of Frigga, the wife of Odin.

Friday Street. The fish market of Old London, so called from the weekly fast day, when it must have been particularly thronged.

Friendly Islands. So called by Captain Cook on account of the peaceable disposition of the natives.

Friesland. Anciently Friesia, the country of the Frisii.

Frisco. An American abbreviation of San Francisco.

Frith Street. Originally Fryth Street, after the name of the builder upon the land in 1680.

Frobisher Strait. Discovered by Sir Martin Frobisher, 1576.

106Frognal. That portion of Hampstead once graced by Frognal Priory, built by “Memory-Corner Thompson.”

From Pillar to Post. This had reference in olden times to the hooting crowds who followed a public offender from the pillory to the whipping-post. The “post,” however, was more usually a “cart’s tail.”

Fuchsia. After Leonard Fuchs, the distinguished German botanist.

Fudge. A word derived from the sound produced by the nasal expression of contempt, futsch! among the Germans and Dutch.

Fulham. The Fullenhame of Anglo-Saxon days, expressing the home or habitation of water-fowl.

Funeral. Specifically a torchlight procession, from the Latin funis, a torch. In ancient times burials always took place by night.

Furnival Street. A name left to remind us of Furnival’s Inn, on the opposite side of Holborn, and where Charles Dickens wrote his “Pickwick Papers.” Anciently this was the “Inn” or town mansion of the Lords Furnival, a title which became extinct in the reign of Richard II.

Fusiliers. Because originally armed with a light musket styled a fusil.

Fye Foot Lane. A corruption of Five Foot Lane, the width of this narrow thoroughfare when it led down to the Thames side.

G

Gad-about. The word “Gad” is Gaelic, signifying “to rove.”

Gaelic. See “Caledonia.”

Gaff. See “Penny Gaff.”

Gaffer. Provincial for an old man; a corruption of “grandfather.”

107Gag. An actor’s interpolation of catch phrases at his own sweet will. Originally, however, gagging was a device to disconcert or stop the mouth of another actor by the unexpected employment of words not in the text of the play.

Gallivanting. An old English word for “doing the agreeable.” Its derivation is clearly traceable to “gallant” and “gallantry.”

Galoshes. From the Spanish galocha, a patten or wooden shoe.

Galvanism. After Luigi Galvani, the eminent physician of Bologna in the eighteenth century, the discoverer of electrical currents produced by chemical agency.

Gamboge. Brought from Cambogia in Siam.

Gamp. After Mrs Gamp in “Martin Chuzzlewit,” who never went abroad without her fat, pawky umbrella, and when at home gave it an honoured position by the side of the fireplace. Charles Dickens must have had the town of Guingamp in his mind when he invented Mrs Gamp. See “Gingham.”

Gander Party. An Americanism for a social party composed of men only.

Ganges. The sacred river of the Hindoos, thought by them to flow through Gang, the earth, to heaven. The name they gave to it, therefore, was Ganga.

Garden of England. The Isle of Wight. The mildness of the climate and the luxuriance of the vegetation bespeak a perpetual summer.

Garden Spot. The fertile centre of Kentucky, whence the Indians, after many a sanguinary encounter, were banished by the white settlers.

Garden State. New Jersey, from the fertility of its soil.

Garden Town. The name bestowed upon both Cheltenham and Leamington in virtue of their spas, public gardens, and promenades tastefully laid out.

108Gargantuan. Anything out of all reasonable limits. We speak of a “Gargantuan Feast,” a “Gargantuan Thirst,” to express a capacity for enormous consumption. The word is derived from Gargantua, the hero of Rabelais’s famous satire of this title.

Garlick Hill. Where garlic was anciently brought to land at Queenhithe.

Garrick Street. From the Garrick Club, the premier rendezvous of the leading members of the dramatic profession.

Garrotters. Street marauders of the latter part of the last century who gripped their victim tightly round the neck while accomplices rifled his pockets. Their designation was derived from the Garrotte, with which malefactors are strangled in Spain.

Gas Bag. An Americanism for one who is always boasting of his own importance.

Gasconade. To boast. The people of Gascony had an unenviable reputation for boasting.

Gate. This old English word does not in all cases express a city gate, as in London, but a road, street, or passage--e.g. Canongate, the way past the House of the Canons of Holyrood Abbey at Edinburgh; Lowgate, Whitefriargate, etc., at Hull; Harrowgate, the passage through the hills; and Boulogne Gate, or entrance to Boulogne Harbour.

Gatling Gun. Named after R. J. Gatling, its inventor.

Gaul. The Gallia of the Romans, from the Celtic name of the country, Gal, “western.”

Gave him a Baker’s Dozen. As much as he merited, and one blow over as a finishing stroke. A drubbing that he little expected.

Gave him a Roland for an Oliver. Exactly what he gave me himself; a tit for tat. Roland and Oliver were two knights in the train of Charlemagne. Both were equally accomplished; what the one did the other essayed also with success. In the matter of fighting 109too they were exactly on a par, since, after having been put to the test in single combat, for a long time neither of them gained the least advantage.

Gave him the Cold Shoulder. Received him with scant ceremony. The allusion is to the fare generally set before an unexpected visitor who has not dined.

Gave him the Grand Shake. An Americanism for finally breaking off an acquaintance.

Gavelkind. A custom among the Anglo-Saxons whereby all the sons of a family inherited alike. Lord Coke traces it from the Teutonic gif eal cyn, and translates it literally “give all kinde.” Inheritance by Gavelkind obtained in Kent long after the Norman Conquest; indeed, it is said that some Kentish lands are still held by this ancient tenure.

Gavotte. A dance familiar to the Gavots in the French province of Dauphiny.

Gay Lothario. A seducer. From the leading character in Nicholas Rowe’s “The Fair Penitent,” produced in 1703.

Gazette. From the Italian Gazzetta, the name of a Venetian coin valued at about ¾d. of English money, which was charged for the individual reading, from hand-to-hand, of a written sheet at Venice containing news of the war with Soliman II., temp. sixteenth century.

Geneva Gown. The habit of Low Churchmen, so called from its resemblance to the gown worn by the Calvinists of Geneva.

Genre Painting. One on a pastoral subject, with figures, that does not properly come under the definition of a landscape. The word is French for a kind, a sort.

Gentleman in Black. A chimney-sweep, who, like a clergyman, was formerly saluted out of respect for “the cloth.”

Gentleman Jack. John Bannister, a favourite actor of 110Drury Lane Theatre, respected by all for his integrity even more than for his histrionic accomplishments.

Gentleman Smith. William Smith of Drury Lane, the beau ideal of a gentleman on the stage.

Gentleman Turkey. The Far Western description of a turkey cock.

George. An inn sign in honour of the patron saint of England. After the Hanoverian Succession, by which time pictorial signs had for the most part disappeared, and the name alone stood for a sign, the omission of the “St” made the sign complimentary to the reigning monarch. Reading of the execution of Charles I., we are told that the ill-fated King handed his “George” to Juxon, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who attended him on the scaffold. This was the badge of the Order of the Garter, representing St George on horseback piercing the fallen dragon with his lance.

George and Dragon. See “George.”

George Ranger. H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, who was appointed Ranger of the Royal Parks.

Georges Sand. This literary pseudonym of Mademoiselle Dupin, afterwards Madame Dudevant, arose out of her attachment to a young student named Jules Sandeau, with whom she collaborated in the production of her first novel, “Rose et Blanche.”

Georgia. In compliment to George II., the reigning monarch when this state was colonised.

German Silver. See “Sterling Silver.”

Germany. Called by the Romans Germania, from a Gaulish or Celtic word meaning “neighbours.”

Gerrard Street. After the family name of the Earl of Macclesfield, the ground landlord, when it was first built upon at the close of the seventeenth century.

Gerrymandering. An American political term for subdividing a constituency in such a way as to give one party an unfair advantage over all others. Its adoption 111was due to Elbridge Gerry, Governor of Massachusetts. When a map of this new electoral distribution was shown to an artist he remarked that it looked very much like a salamander. “A salamander, you say? Why not a Gerrymander!” was the reply. And a Gerrymander the name of the scheme remained.

Get there all the same. An Americanism meaning to succeed in any enterprise, despite all obstacles or opposition.

Ghost. One employed by an author or an artist to do his work for him, so called because, his name and personality being withheld from the public, he is kept in the shade. In other words, he is a mere shadow of his master. Originally, however, the term had reference to the friend who had inspired or suggested the work.

Ghost walking. A theatrical phrase. Actors assembling at the theatre for their weekly salaries generally put the question among themselves: “Is the ghost walking?” While those about to accept an engagement with a manager of whom they know nothing ask: “Does the ghost walk?” Its origin is as follows:--Many years ago a manager of the Bogus type had in his company a self-willed actor whose strong part was the Ghost in “Hamlet.” If his salary was not forthcoming on a Saturday morning he exclaimed: “Then the ghost won’t walk to-night.” Indispensable actor as he was, the manager invariably acceded to his demands. Sometimes it happened that he received only a portion of his salary, with a promise of the remainder in the course of the performance, in which case he refused to go on until the money was actually paid. It is said that the other members of the company would wait on a Saturday morning about the time for “Treasury” until they received word by a messenger that the ghost would walk.

Giaour. From the Arabic kiafir, “unbeliever.” The Turks bestow this name on all European Christians, enemies of the Mohammedan faith. Readers of Lord Byron’s 112poem “The Giaour” may require to be informed of its meaning.

Gibberish. After Geber, an Arabian alchemist of the eleventh century, who employed an unintelligible jargon to mystify the ecclesiastics, lest by plain speaking he might be put to death as a sorcerer.

Gibraltar. From the Arabic designation, Jebel-al-Tarik, the Mountain of Tarik, in honour of Ben Zeyad Tarik, a Moorish General, to whose prowess the conquest of Spain in the eighth century was due.

Gibraltar of America. The city of Quebec, from its commanding and impregnable position on the heights.

Gibson Girl. A new type of womanhood popularised in America by the drawings of Charles Dana Gibson, and introduced to London by Miss Camille Clifford.

Gibus. An opera or crush hat, so called after its inventor.

Gift of the Gab. “Gab” is a very old word; it was used by the Anglo-Saxons for speech. The Scots employed it to describe the mouth; hence to “gabble.” The French had it too in the forms of “gaber,” to boast or talk wildly.

Gig. A term claiming the same origin as “Jig”--i.e. the French gigue, a lively dance--because this vehicle moves lightly.

Gilbertines. An English religious Order of the twelfth century, founded by St Gilbert of Sempringham, Lincolnshire.

Gilly flower. A corruption of July flower, from the month when it blossoms.

Giltspur Street. Said to have received its name from the gilt spurs of the knights riding to the tournaments in Smithfield. The greater probability is that the makers of gilt spurs congregated in this street.

Gimnal Ring. A love token of bygone days, so called from the Latin gemellus, joined. This ring was composed of two separate bands fitted into each 113other with little teeth. When lovers were betrothed it was divided, only to be put together again at the nuptial ceremony.

Gin. Short for Geneva. Not after Geneva in Switzerland, because this is the national spirituous drink of the Dutch, called at first by them giniva, from the French genievre, juniper. Juniper berries were originally employed to flavour the spirit distilled from unmalted rye. The native name for Dutch gin is now Schiedam, after the town where it is made. Dutch gin brought to England is called Hollands.

Ginger. Red-haired people are said to be ginger because Guinevre, the Queen at the Court of King Arthur, had red hair.

Gingham. A corruption of Guingamp in Brittany, where the cotton stuff brought from Java, there called gingang, was dyed and made into umbrella covers before silk and alpaca came into use for this purpose. Hence the slang term for an umbrella. See “Gamp.”

Gin Sling. An American drink composed of equal parts of gin and water. See “Sling.”

Gipsies. A corruption of Egyptians, because, when first heard of in Europe, they spread themselves over Bohemia, and were thought to have arrived there by way of Egypt.

Giraldus Cambrensis. The Latinised pen name of Gerald de Barri, Archbishop of St David’s, and historian of Cambria or Wales.

Girasole. The Italian name of the sunflower, from the Latin gyara, to turn, and sol, the sun.

Girondists. Deputies from the Department of the Gironde who formed the Moderate Republican Party in the French Revolution.

Girton Girl. A student of Girton College, Cambridge.

Give him Beans. An expression derived from a French proverb: “If he gives me peas I will give him beans”--i.e. I will be quits with him.

114Give him plenty of Rope. Let him do just what he thinks is best, and everything will come out right in the end. Following in your train, and, metaphorically, attached to your rope, the longer the rope the wider will be the sweep he can command; he can always be pulled in when it becomes necessary to check his movements.

Given Name. An Americanism for a Christian or forename.

Gives himself Airs. One who assumes a manner out of keeping with his social position. “Air” was formerly synonymous with deportment.

Give up the Ghost. Literally to yield up the Spirit.

Gladiator. From the Latin gladius, a sword. A slave trained to defend himself with a short sword in the mortal combats of the Roman arena for the amusement of the Emperors and the populace.

Glad Rags. An Americanism for holiday clothes or festive garments.

Gladstone Bag. So called in compliment to Mr W. E. Gladstone when, as leader of the Liberal Government, his name was “familiar in men’s mouths as household words.”

Glamorgan. From Gwlad-Margam, “the territory of Margam,” a Welsh chieftain of the tenth century. His name is correctly preserved in Margam Abbey.

Glenlivet. Whisky distilled in the Vale of Glenlivet in Banffshire.

Globe. An inn sign, the name of which was derived from the arms of the King of Portugal.

Globe Trotter. A tourist, a traveller in foreign lands.

Glorious Fourth of July. Another name for “Independence Day.”

Gloucester. The Gloicastra of the Romans, in honour of Gloi, son of the Emperor Claudius, who was born here.

115Gloucester Road. From Oxford Lodge, the one-time residence of the Duchess of Gloucester.

Go ahead. From the nautical phrase “The wind’s ahead”--i.e. blowing from the stern towards the vessel’s head.

Goat and Compasses. A corruption of the Puritan motto “God encompass us.”

Goatee. An Americanism for the typical Yankee chin tuft, in allusion to the beard of a goat.

Gobelin Tapestry. Made under royal patronage in the house originally occupied by Jean Gobelin, a wool dyer in Paris, temp. seventeenth century.

God help you. Anciently an invocation on behalf of a person subjected to the Ordeal of Fire.

Godstone. A corruption of “Good Stone,” relative to the excellence of the stone quarried here.

Goggles. Shaded spectacles, so called in allusion to gig lamps.

Go in for Banting. See “Banting.”

Gold Coast. The coast of Guinea, West Africa, where gold was found.

Golden Cross. The device of the Crusaders, extensively adopted as an inn sign.

Golden Gate. The entrance to San Francisco Harbour. This name had been bestowed upon it by the Spaniards centuries before the outbreak of the gold fever in 1847, from their own knowledge that this was the gate to the Land of Gold.

Golden Lane. A corruption of “Golding Lane,” after the builder.

Golden Square. Properly “Gelding Square,” from an old inn of this name.

Go Marooning. A southern state American expression for a picnicking party on the shore or up country which is to last for several days. See “Maroons.”

116Gone over to the Majority. A Parliamentary phrase equally, if more generally, applied to one who has passed from the scene of his life’s labours to the spirit world. Ancient and modern authors contain passages in the latter connection. The Rev. Robert Blair in “The Grave” says: “’Tis long since Death had the majority.”

Gone to Pot. Vanished possessions. The reference is to the metalliferous melting pot.

Gone to Rack and Ruin. A corruption of “wreck and ruin.”

Gone to Texas. An American expression for one who has decamped leaving debts behind him. It was (and is) no unusual thing for a man to display this notice, perhaps only the initials “G.T.T.” on his door for the information of callers after he has absconded.

Gone to the Devil. From the twofold circumstance that money lost through lawyers would surely be spent by them at their regular resort, the celebrated “Devil Tavern,” hard by Temple Bar, and the not unusual answer tendered by a subordinate to a caller at a place of business in Fleet Street that his master had “gone to the ‘Devil.’”

Gone to the Dogs. Money that has been squandered uselessly, as the remains of a feast in Eastern countries are thrown to the dogs instead of being given to the poor. A vicious man is said to have gone to the dogs because in the East social outcasts are often worried by ravenous dogs that prowl about the streets by night.

Gone under. One who has sunk in the social scale; never recovered from financial embarrassments; who found it impossible to “keep his head above water.” The allusion is, of course, to drowning.

Gone up the Country. An expression implying that a person is insolvent; originally introduced into England from the Colonies. When a man could not 117make ends meet in the coast cities he went prospecting up the country.

Gong Punch. The American term for the bell ticket punch used by conductors on tramcars.

Gonville College. The original name of Caius College, Cambridge, founded by Edmund Gonville in 1348.

Good enough Morgan. An American phrase for an imposition, or any person or thing likely to pass muster for the reality. This originated during the Anti-Masonic riots in the state of New York, when it was alleged that the Freemasons had drowned a man called Morgan for having betrayed their secrets. A body was actually found in the river nearnear Fort Niagara, and identified by Morgan’s wife chiefly on account of a missing tooth. It was, however, proved that the whole story had been trumped up for political ends. A prominent politician who had a hand in the affair indeed confessed that, when reminded that the body would never pass for Morgan’s, he declared: “It’s a good enough Morgan.” Hence the phrase.